Page:Margaret Fuller by Howe, Julia Ward, Ed. (1883).djvu/161

146 Margaret's high estimate of Mazzini will be justified by those who knew him or knew of him:—

“Mazzini, one of these noble refugees, is not only one of the heroic, the courageous, and the faithful,—Italy boasts many—such, but he is also one of the wise,—one of those who, disappointed in the outward results of their undertakings, can yet 'bate no jot of heart and hope,' but must 'steer right onward,' For it was no superficial enthusiasm, no impatient energies, that impelled him, but an understanding' of what must be the designs of Heaven with regard to man, since God is Love, is Justice. He is one of those beings who, measuring all things by the ideal standard, have yet no time to mourn over failure or imperfection; there is too much to be done to obviate it."

She finds in his papers, published in the People's Journal, "the purity of impulse, largeness and steadiness of view, and fineness of discrimination which must belong to a legislator for a Christian commonwealth."

Much as Margaret admired the noble sentiments expressed in Mazzini's writings, she admired still more the love and wisdom which led the eminent patriot to found, with others, the school for poor Italian boys already spoken of. More Christ-like did she deem this labour than aught that he could have said or sung.

“As among the fishermen and poor people of Judæa were picked up those who have become to modern Europe & leaven that leavens the whole mass, so may these poor Italian boys yet become more efficacious as missionaries to their people than would an Orphic poet at this period."

At the distribution of prizes to the school, in which Mazzini and Mariotti took part, some of the Polish